Ferson Creek eNews
February 12, 2021
From the Principal...Kristy McKnight
On Monday, our students celebrated their 100th day of school! Even with all of the challenges this year, and with school looking differently, it has been an AMAZING 100 days! I absolutely loved seeing all the students and staff celebrating the day. Everyone should be proud of themselves for the last 100 days!
Below you will find many ways to get involved in Kindness Week, which begins on Monday. Please take a minute to help your child find a way to share a small act of kindness. While some options are more involved, there are simple activities like writing a note of thanks or drawing a picture that will be sure to put a smile on someone's face!
It looks like next week will bring us back to our normal cold temperatures so we can get back outside! It's very rare that I get excited to see a high temperature of 19 degrees, but I'll take it if it means kids are back outside getting mask breaks and playing in the snow!
As a reminder, there is not school on Monday. Please enjoy your three day weekend, and Happy Valentine's Day!
Take care,
Kristy
5Essentials Survey
District 303 participates in the annual Illinois 5Essentials Survey that collects feedback from our students, teachers, and parents. Your participation in the parent portion of the survey will give you the opportunity to share your thoughts on important elements of school effectiveness. The responses will help us understand the conditions at your child’s school and guide our improvement efforts. All responses are confidential and will never be connected to you or your child.
The Parent Survey is currently open and will remain so through April 2 2021. To take the survey, please visit https://survey.5-essentials.org/Illinois/ and select the appropriate survey. As part of this communication, we have included graphics of the login page with additional information about how to access the survey. Most notably, make sure you enter Kane County in the box for county even if your home or your child’s school is in DuPage County. This will allow you to correctly select your child’s school.
All District 303 teachers, as well as students in 4th through 12th grades, are being asked to complete this survey. 5Essentials Reports will be generated for schools if their teachers and/or students meet the response rate threshold of 50 percent. Teachers will work with students to assist them with logging in and taking the student survey.
On behalf of the Illinois State Board of Education, the Illinois 5Essentials Survey is administered online by UChicago Impact at the University of Chicago. The survey gathers data related to five indicators that can predict important student outcomes, including improved attendance and larger test score gains. These five indicators that affect and predict school success are:
· Effective Leaders
· Collaborative Teachers
· Involved Families
· Supportive Environments
· Ambitious Instruction
We value your feedback and appreciate you taking the time to provide us with your input.
For more information about the Illinois 5Essentials Survey, or if you have any questions or concerns, please contact 5Essentials Client Services at 1-866-440-1874 or 5essentials@uchicago.edu.
Ferson Creek Kindness Week
This year, Ferson will again be participating in Kindness Week, in conjunction with Random Acts Matter and Big Hearts of Fox Valley. Our Student Advisory Board developed acts of kindness for the week of February 15th that students can choose to participate in. See below for the schedule.
We're on a roll spreading kindness and cheer this school year at Ferson! Ferson Creek is partnering once again with Big Hearts of Fox Valley. We are collecting toiletries and winter gear donations at school. Please drop off in the foyer, as there will be labeled gray bins. To make it easier for busy families who still want to help, you can donate through Pushcoin as well and the PTO will do the shopping for you!
BHFV is asking for the following:
*Winter boots, hats and gloves (All kids sizes for ages 5yrs-17yrs)
*Toiletries(full size): Shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, body wash, razors/shaving cream, deodorant, toothbrushes/toothpaste and hand sanitizer (Feminine products and diapers are not needed at this time)
*Gift cards to grocery stores: Jewel, Meijer and Walmart
*Cleaning products: Cleaning wipes, disinfectant spray, dish soap
Additionally, there are acts of kindness planned by Random Acts Matter that are open for community involvement. Their calendar of events is also posted below. Please visit their website for more information, or sign up to participate!
February is Kindness month, let's show our community how much Ferson families care!
RAM Food Drive
Looking for a way to support veterans in our community? Random Acts Matter has organized a food drive for the St. Charles Veterans Center. Details on items they are requesting are below. Thank you for your support!
5th Grade Parents- In Person and Remote
Please see the letter
here regarding the 5th Grade Human Growth and Development presentation. This presentation will be completed virtually this year, using a narrated slide presentation and short video. In the letter you will find details regarding the content of the presentation as well as a link to view the video. Don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions.
Yearbook Photos
We still need Yearbook photos!! Students and families, though this year may look different than previous years, we still want to put together a great yearbook for your family and we need your help!! Please send us any photos you would like to be included. They could be of your child working on a school project, reading their favorite book, artwork, at home during remote school, having fun during an activity or practicing an instrument. Did they make a giant snowman over winter break and want to share it? Send it to us!
Our goal is to collect as many memories as we can for our 2020-2021 yearbook and remember we are still Better Together, even if we are not all under one roof. Additionally, if your children are remote and didn't get their picture taken for the yearbook, we would love to still include them! Please submit your own headshot to our yearbook coordinators.
Please email any photos or questions to Kristi Bruns and Ashley Holdsworth at aholdswo@gmail.com or via wetransfer.com using aholdswo@gmail.com.
*Remember to include the name of your student and grade level.
We appreciate your support!
Updated Calendar
In the Spring, elementary schools have typically had a half day for conferences. Because of our shortened school day and regular communication between parents and teachers, were are not holding this spring conference day. The district calendar, linked
here, has been updated to reflect this change.
Thursday, March 25th, 2021 will now be a regular school day from 8:00 am-1:40 pm. Please reach out to your child's teacher at any point during the year if you have questions or concerns.
Friday, March 26th is still a School Improvement Day for all staff and a non-attendance day for D303 students.
5th Grade Parents - 6th Grade Band and Choir
Any and all current 5th grade students are welcome to sign up for Band and Choir for 6th grade, even if they did not do band or choir this year as a 5th grader. Students in middle school will be allowed to play band instruments and sing at school as long as the health situation continues to improve and in accordance with IDPH and state guidelines. Band Instrument selection will take place prior to the start of the 6th grade school year for those who are new to band as well as for those who are already in band, since percussion was the only instrument allowed in band this year. More information will be communicated about the band instrument selection process this spring. If you have further questions please contact the band or music teacher at your school.
Kindergarten Registration
The District 303 Kindergarten enrollment process for the 2021-2022 school year will be virtual! Between January 19 and March 12, families will be able to enroll their kindergarten-age children by visiting the Kindergarten Registration & Information page of the District 303 website. On the District 303 website you will find:
The New Student Intake Form (coming January 19, 2021)
The Kindergarten Step-by-Step Guide for registration
Health and Dental exams and immunization information
Contact information for all elementary schools
Information about Full Day and Half Day Kindergarten
Please direct any friends or neighbors with incoming kindergarteners to the D303 website to get all necessary information.
Middle School Transfer Requests
REQUEST PERIOD OPEN FROM FEB. 1 - FEB. 26
Families who wish to submit a Middle School Transfer request may do so beginning February 1, 2021. Families must complete a separate form for each student they want to be transferred. Requests are granted based on space available. This means that siblings are not guaranteed placement. A written decision will be communicated to families before spring break.
Once the request is approved, a student may remain at that middle school throughout his or her middle school career, as long as the student resides in District 303.
Families of students granted permission to attend a school outside of their assigned attendance area are responsible for their own transportation.
Students will return to their assigned attendance area high school regardless of the middle school attended.
The Middle School Transfer request window will close at 4:00pm on February 26, 2021.
If you have questions, please contact Tammy Marsan at: 331-228-2397.
haga clic aquí para descargar el formulario de solicitud de transferencia para la escuela secundaria.
UPCOMING DATES
- Monday, February 15th - Presidents' day, No School
- Thursday, February 25th - End of 2nd Trimester
- Friday, February 26th - School Improvement Day, No School for Students
- Friday, March 26th - School Improvement Day, No School for Students
- Monday, March 29th - Friday, April 2nd - Spring Break
Ferson Creek Elementary
Kristy McKnight, Principal
